Is it March yet? Hardly. With the NCAA tournament far in the rearview mirror and Midnight Madness several months away, USA TODAY Sports examines several story lines for the 2013-14 college basketball season.

If the college basketball season could be summed up in one word, it would be unpredictable. Sure, you can tell when teams look like a championship team (a la Louisville last season). But who saw Florida Gulf Coast beating Georgetown? Or Harvard knocking out New Mexico? Who thought Kentucky wouldn't even make the NCAA tournament?

The same goes for star players. There are the easy forecasts — Doug McDermott, Russ Smith — and then there are the unpredictable breakout standouts. Before the beginning of last season, Gonzaga's Kelly Olynyk was simply a name on a loaded Zags roster. Indiana's Victor Oladipo was merely a sidekick (if that) to returning All-American Cody Zeller. In the end, Olynyk had an All-American season and Oladipo rode the momentum from his sensational junior season to become the No. 2 NBA draft pick.

Then there are surprises like Marshall Henderson, who led the SEC in scoring and became the league's best player. With some players, you can sense a breakout season. Such was the case with Georgetown's Otto Porter, who went from up-and-coming sophomore to Big East Player of the Year. Players like Michigan's Mitch McGary and Glenn Robinson III show that same potential.

Regardless of whether it's a team or player, the unpredictable is the key ingredient in why college hoops becomes so addictive come March. So who are this upcoming season's Cinderella men? Here's a peek at some under-the-radar players with All-America potential reminiscent of last year's crop of emerging talents:

1. Jahii Carson, Arizona State: He was one of the most underrated players in the nation last season after averaging 18.5 points, 5.1 assists and 3.7 rebounds a game last season as a freshman — on the way to six school records. Because the Sun Devils didn't make the NCAA tournament, Carson's speedy play never met the national spotlight. At 5-10, he's undoubtedly one of the fastest coast-to-coast players in the country. If Oklahoma State's Marcus Smart is the biggest sophomore campaigns we're looking forward to, Carson's should be right after. He's the best player in the Pac-12 heading into a turnaround season. The Sun Devils will want to take full advantage of having Carson at the controls in 2013-14 because, like Smart, he'll likely be gone after this year to play in the pros.

2. Jordan Adams, UCLA: Before Adams suffered a season-ending broken foot in the Pac-12 tournament, UCLA was poised for a nice postseason run. His loss led to an opening-round NCAA tournament loss, and coach Ben Howland was fired shortly after. Now, with Shabazz Muhammad in the NBA and point guard Larry Drew graduated, there's plenty of room for Adams to improve upon a stellar-yet-quiet freshman campaign when he averaged 15.3 points a game. He'll be the top player on new coach Steve Alford's Bruins, which will once again face high expectations.

3. Jordan McRae, Tennessee: With the Volunteers poised for a preseason top 25 ranking and a resurgent season after an NCAA tournament snub in 2013, McRae returns as the face of a Tennessee program on the verge of contending in the SEC with Kentucky and Florida. Of all the players who passed on the NBA draft, McRae's might have gone the most unnoticed, yet his return is crucial after averaging 15.7 points in a first team All-SEC season. The 6-foot-6 lengthy guard has the ingredients to join the nation's elite category.

4. Dwayne Evans, Saint Louis: As the best player on a 28-win Billikens roster, Evans was under-the-radar much of last season. He led the team in scoring (14 points per game) and rebounding (7.7 boards per game) last season and has improved gradually over his time at Saint Louis — going from 46% to 54.7% shooting from his sophomore to junior seasons. He's often overlooked because of his size (he's a 6-5 forward), but he does all the little things that make a difference. As a senior, Evans can now tap into his full potential, steering the Billikens once again for a promising Atlantic 10 and postseason run.

5. Montrezl Harrell, Louisville: He put up pedestrian stats (5.7 points, 3.6 rebounds per game) in his freshman season with the Cardinals, but he came alive in the NCAA tournament and had a strong summer playing for USA basketball — averaging 10.6 points a game on the U.S. gold medal team. He'll fill the immediate void that utility big man Gorgui Dieng left for Rick Pitino and has the potential to become a double-double machine. He's also projected as a potential 2014 NBA lottery pick.

Honorable Mention: Tyler Haws, BYU: There's a very high chance Haws could lead the nation in scoring as a junior after pouring in 21.7 points per game last season for the Cougars, who just barely missed playing in the NCAA tournament. At 6-5, Haws has a little Jimmer Fredette in him — scoring 42 points in BYU's Virginia Tech blowout last season. He's deadly from beyond the arc and also shoots 48% from the field and 88% from the charity stripe.

No. 1 Kentucky: The Wildcats missed the tournament a year after winning the national title. But Alex Poythress and Willie Cauley-Stein return to Kentucky to help John Calipari welcome in the nation's top recruiting class, boasting the top-rated point guard (Andrew Harrison), shooting guard (Aaron Harrison) and power forward (Julius Randle) in the 2013 class (Photo: Mark Zerof, USA TODAY Sports)

No. 2 Michigan State: The Spartans lost last year in the Sweet 16. But Gary Harris and Adreian Payne made Michigan State coach Tom Izzo's offseason when they decided to skip the NBA draft to return to East Lansing. (Photo: Rick Osentoski, USA TODAY Sports)

No. 3 Louisville: Peyton Siva and Gorgui Dieng are gone. But once was not enough for Louisville guard Russ Smith. After averaging 22.3 points in the tournament and leading the Cardinals to a national title, Smith decided to return for another year. (Photo: Bob Donnan, USA TODAY Sports)

No. 5 Kansas: The Jayhawks, without their five best players from last year’s team, will rely heavily on a stellar incoming freshman class headlined by highly-touted recruit Andrew Wiggins, who chose KU over top suitors Florida State, North Carolina and Kentucky. Sophomore Perry Ellis returns to a team that lost Ben McLemore and Jeff Withey to the NBA. Outside of John Calipari’s recruiting class, Bill Self assembled the best group of freshmen in the country behind Wiggins and Joel Embiid, the top-rated center in the country. Self’s best recruiting class positions Kansas to win its 10th consecutive Big 12 Conference title. (Photo: Nam Y. Huh, AP)

No. 6 Arizona: The Wildcats lost in the Sweet 16 and the team's top two scorers are going. But Kaleb Tarczewski joins Nick Johnson and Brandon Ashley as three guys who averaged 25.6 points together. (Photo: Douglas C. Pizac, USA TODAY Sports)

No. 8 Michigan: The national runner-up last season, the Wolverines lost consensus national player of the year Trey Burke and shooting guard Tim Hardaway Jr. to the NBA draft, but bring back a number of key players capable of keeping the team near the top of the Big Ten. Sophomore Mitch McGary had his coming-out party in the NCAA tournament, averaging 14.3 points and 10.7 rebounds in six games, including a 25-point, 14-rebound performance against Kansas in the Sweet 16. Coach John Beilein brought in another strong recruiting class, providing depth across the roster. Despite the roster shakeup, Michigan has enough talent to make another deep run in the tournament. (Photo: Daniel Shirey, USA TODAY Sports)

No. 9 Syracuse: The Orange lost three of their four best players, over 55% of their scoring and nearly 86% of their assists, but don’t be surprised when they challenge Duke and North Carolina for the conference crown in their first season in the ACC. The Orange return senior forward C.J. Fair, their scoring and rebounding leader a year ago, as well as a bevy of talented underclassmen including sophomores DaJuan Coleman, Michael Gbinije and Jerami Grant. And freshmen Tyler Ennis and Tyler Roberson are noteworthy additions. It’s tough to expect this season’s team to top last year squad’s Final Four run, but Jim Boeheim always formulates an Orange team that’s in the mix. (Photo: Daniel Shirey, USA TODAY Sports)

No. 10 Oklahoma State: The Cowboys lost in in the second round but got great news after that. Marcus Smart, expected to be a lottery pick, decided to return to school (Photo: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports USA TODAY Sports)

No. 11 North Carolina: Lost in the third round. However, the Tar Heels get four starters back including leading scorer James Michael McAdoo (14.4 points, 7.3 rebounds) (Photo: Denny Medley, USA TODAY Sports)

No. 12 Ohio State: Yes, the Buckeyes lost their leading scorer, Deshaun Thomas (19.8 ppg), to the NBA draft. But they've got everyone else, led by the best on-ball defender in the country in point guard Aaron Craft. Craft will be surrounded by talented players who gained a great deal of experience last year – Lenzelle Smith, Jr., LaQuinton Ross and Sam Thompson – and Ohio State should once again be among the best teams in one of the country's top conferences. (Photo: Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Sports)

No. 13 Memphis: The Tigers lost in the third round and then lost three key players after the season. However, Josh Pastner had a great recruiting class and also gets point guard Joe Jackson and his 13.6 points and 4.8 assists coming back. (Photo: Nelson Chenault, USA TODAY)

No. 14 Virginia Commonwealth: Coach Shaka Smart once again passed up job offers at other, more prominent schools to remain in Richmond, something that's become a bit of an offseason ritual in these parts. But what that means is more Havoc, and perhaps Smart's best team yet. In his fifth season at the helm, he'll return most of his offensive production from a team that reached the third round of the NCAA tournament. Treveon Graham (15.1 ppg, 5.8 rpg) and Juvonte Reddic (14.6 ppg, 8.1 rpg) will carry the scoring load, while other players like Rob Brandenberg and Briante Weber will step up in the absence of key players Troy Daniels and Darius Theus (lost to graduation). (Photo: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports USA TODAY Sports)

No. 15 Connecticut: The Huskies are back after a year spent in limbo due to poor academics, a rough patch in program history that also cost them some of their best players to the NBA and transferring. But Kevin Ollie earned himself the permanent head coaching gig, and UConn pulled off some nice wins last season despite lacking the motivation most teams have throughout the season: the potential for postseason glory. Now, the Huskies have it. Shabazz Napier (17.1 ppg, 4.6 apg) will try to lead this team back to the NCAA tournament and establish himself as one of the best guards in the nation. (Photo: David Butler II, USA TODAY Sports)

No. 16 Wichita State: WSU came up short in the Final Four as one of the great surprises in the tournament. But the Shockers proved how talented they are and leading scorer Cleanthony Early (13.9) is back along with top freshman Ron Baker. (Photo: Bob Donnan, USA TODAY Sports)

No. 17 Creighton: Doug McDermott was named a First Team All-American for a second consecutive year, and, for a second consecutive year, he chose to return to school and pass up the chance to go to the NBA. McDermott averaged 23.2 points and 7.7 rebounds per game last year, and if it's possible, he may have to carry more of the load now that Gregory Echenique and Grant Gibbs will be gone. (Note: Gibbs is petitioning the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility.) Either way, even with Creighton moving to the Big East, it's hard to count out a team that's led by one of the best – if not, the best – players in the nation. (Photo: Dave Weaver, USA TODAY Sports)

No. 20 Gonzaga: Though Gonzaga loses its entire starting frontcourt in Kelly Olynyk (17.8 ppg, 7.3 rpg) and Elias Harris (14.6 ppg, 7.4 rpg), the 'Zags have two more-than-adequate big-man replacements ready in Sam Dower and Przemek Karnowski. Plus, Kevin Pangos (11.9 ppg, 3.3 apg) and Gary Bell Jr. (9.0 ppg, 2.1 apg) return to run a very good backcourt. The Bulldogs are usually ranked each season and always the team to beat in the West Coast Conference, and this season will continue that trend. Now, to just reach that elusive Final Four … (Photo: Steve Dykes, USA TODAY Sports)

21. Tennessee: After a somewhat disappointing season last year, the Vols managed to hold on to their two best scorers and players and added a strong recruiting class that will enable them to stretch the floor more. With Stokes and McRae a year better, the Vols will contend for the SEC title and are a sure bet for a postseason NCAA berth, but it will take something special to unseat John Calipari’s loaded Kentucky squad atop the SEC. (Photo: Daniel Shirey, USA TODAY Sports)

No. 22 Marquette:These Golden Eagles won a share of the old Big East regular season championship, but they lose quite a bit heading into their first season as members of the new Big East. They knew Junior Cadougan and Trent Lockett would exhaust their eligibility, but they weren't counting on the unexpected loss of leading scorer Vander Blue (14.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.8 apg), who declared for the draft. The task of getting Marquette back to the Elite Eight will be a tall one, but it's hard to doubt Buzz Williams. He took last year's team deep into the NCAA tournament after losing his top two scorers, and he'll look to do the same with who he's got returning, most notably Davante Gardner (11.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg). The Golden Eagles are always a tough out, and they'll remain so next fall. (Photo: Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports)

No. 23 Indiana: Only Kansas lost more than Indiana did this offseason. The Hoosiers lost four starters – seniors Christian Watford and Jordan Hulls to graduation, as well as sophomore Cody Zeller and junior Victor Oladipo to the NBA draft – which leaves coach Tom Crean with rising senior Will Sheehey (9.5 ppg) and Yogi Ferrell (7.6 ppg, 4.1 apg), who looks to build off a very promising freshman season. What keeps the Hoosiers in this early Top 25 is their incoming freshman class: Noah Vonleh, Troy Williams, Luke Fischer, Stanford Robinson, Devin Davis and Collin Hartman. (Photo: Brian Spurlock, USA TODAY Sports)

No. 24 Iowa: The Hawkeyes were close to securing an NCAA tournament bid in 2013, but wins were a little too tough to come by in the ultra-competitive Big Ten. Iowa eventually fell to Baylor in the NIT final, but it opened some eyes during its postseason run. Now, the Hawkeyes return nearly everyone, including all those crucial to a successful season, most notably Roy Devyn Marble (15.0 ppg, 3.0 apg), Aaron White (12.8 ppg, 6.2 rpg) and Mike Gesell (8.7 ppg, 2.6 apg). The only thing that will limit Iowa's success in 2013-14 will be how well the Hawkeyes can survive punishing Big Ten regular season. (Photo: Reese Strickland, USA TODAY Sports)

No. 25 Virginia: The Cavaliers shouldn't have any issues making the field of 68 next season after just missing the NCAA tournament this year. In coach Tony Bennett's fifth season, Virginia loses Jontel Evans (4.2 ppg, 4.8 apg) but brings a majority of its roster back, led by its top two leading scorers, Joe Harris (16.3 ppg, 2.2 apg) and Akil Mitchell (13.1 ppg, 8.9 rpg). Plus, Malcolm Brogdon (medical redshirt) and South Carolina transfer Anthony Gill will be eligible for the Cavs. (Photo: Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports)